Toy gas cannon



May 6, 1930.

M. Fv GRlMM TOY GAS CANNON Filed July 6, 1929 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

MEX F Elr'imm ATTORNEYS.

May 6, 1930. M. F. CI-QRIMM 1,757,523

TOY GAS CANNON Filed July 6, 1929 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1930 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE max 1'. serum, or SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TOY GAS CANNON Application filed July 6, 1929. Serial No. 376,478.

The present invention relates to improvements in toy cannons and the primary ob-' ject of the invention is to provide a toy cannon which will be safe for use in that 5 no igniting of the charge is required for operation of the cannon to project a projectile and produce a loud report when the cannon is discharged.

- A further object ofthe invention is to gas within the chamber.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gas expansion operated toy cannon which is of extremely simple and durable construction and which is of such formation as to permit of easy and thorough cleaning of the gas chamber for removal of the gas generating material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toy cannon of such character wherein the loading means associated with one side of the barrel of the cannon simultaneously seals the gas generating chamber through a slight turning motion of the operator as a measured quantity of gas generating material is deposited in the gas generating chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the improved cannon and showing the loading means in a closed position and the projec-.

tile cap in position for providing a closed gas generating chamber.

Figure 2 1s a section on the line 22 of. '50 Figure 1.

Figure v3 .is a fragmentary side elevation of the cannon.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the loading means shown in a position for depositing a predetermined quantity of gas forming material into the barrel of the cannon.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a slightly modified form of cannon in which the loading means proper is removable from the cannon.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the cannon shown in Figure Fi re 7 is a fra mentar to Ian view of th% modified forril of caniion hiiwing the loading plug removed.

Figure 8 is a view looking at the inner end of the loading plug.

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail, an more specifically to the form of toy cannon illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the toy cannon has been shown resembling a trench. mortar including a barrel 5 and a carriage or mount 6. The numeral 7 may designate the loading means, and 8 a cap for insertion into the barrel to be projected through the generation and expansion of gases within the barrel.

The barrel 5is provided with the bore 9 being enlarged at its inner or rear end into a chamber 10 having a rounded end 11. The

chamber 10 at its forward end merges in rounded shoulders 12 into the slightly reduced chamber forming bore 9. Projecting in axial alignment from each side of the barrel 5 and preferably cast integral with the barrel are suitable trunnions 13 for pivotal mounting of the barrel upon the mount or frame 6. I y p The mount 6 is preferably constructed with triangular shaped side plates 14 connected along their straight bottom edges by suitable ties 15 which may be in the form of rods extended through a spacing sleeve. The upper ends or apexes of the side plates are provided with suitable openings 16 for rotatably receiving the trunnions 13. I

Referring now to the loading means 7 for admitting measured quantities of as forming material, preferably powdere calcium carbide, into the chamber 10, the same is substantiall in the form of a pet cock having threade c barrel 5, adjacent the forward end of the chamber 10, is provided with a screw threaded opening 16 having its axis extended at an angle of 45 to the longitudinal axis of the barrel so that when the barrel is in its normal position with its axis at an angle of 45, the axis of the threaded opening 16 will extend vertical.

The loading means or valve 7 is constructed with a body portion 18 and a threaded extension 19 through which a duct 20 is formed. Extended transversely through the body portion 18 is a tapering way 21 which traverses the duct 20 and in which is rotatably mounted a tapering valve plug 22 provided at one end with a handle 23. The upper end of the duct 20 flares outwardly providing a funnel end 24'which may be of any desired size and permits easy feeding of the gas forming material into the upper end of the duct 20. The plug 22 is provided with a pocket 25 which as will be observed does not extend entirely through the plug, and which pocket through rotation of the plug 22 through 180? is intended to alternately align with the duct 20 above and below the way 21. The lower end of the valve body portion 18 may be formed with a wrench square 26 so as to permit ready threading of the loading valve into the threaded opening 16 of the barrel 5. When the pocket 25 is in an upward opening position, the handle 23 preferably extends substantially parallel to the axis of the barrel as shown in Figure 3, and when the handle 23 is rotated through 180 into the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, the pocket will be opening downwardly into the duct 20, as shown in Figure 4. By comparing Figures 1 and 4 it will be seen that when the pocket 25 is in either position that the plug 22 cuts off communication through the duct 20 with the chamber 10.

The projectile forming cap 18 for insertion in the mouth of the barrel 5 is preferably constructed from light material and if so desired, may be pressed from thin sheet metal, such as tin or the like. ,The cap is formed with a plug-like body portion 28 provided at its outer end with an annular-1y projecting flange 30 which engages over the end of the barrel when the body portion 28 is inserted into the bore 9. The body portion 28 is of such diameter as to have a snug sliding fit in the bore 9 and with sufficient frictional contact with the barrel as to require some little pressure for withdrawing the cap.

In operation of the type of gas operated toy cannon thus far described, and withthe barrel preferably in the loading position as onnection with the barrel 5. The

shown in Figure 1, a small quantity of water is placed in the chamber 10 through the bore 9. The cap 8 is then inserted into the outer end of the barrel thereby forming a closed chamber within the barrel. WVith the loading valve in the position. as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a quantity of the powdered carbide is placed in the funnel 24 which allows filling of the pocket 25 with the carbide. The handle 23 is then rotated through 180 until the pocket 25 opens downwardly so that the carbide therein falls by gravity through the duct'20 into the water in the chamber 10. The handle 23 is then reversely rotated into its normal position with the pocket 25 opening upwardly and in which position it will be seen that the duct 20 will be closed. This depositing of the carbide in the water in the chamber 10 generates an acetylene gas in the closed chamber and the generation and accumulation of this gas within the closed chamber will produce such pressure as to forcibly project the cap 8 and at the same time create a loud report through escape of the gas. Thus it will be seen that an operation of the cannon will be carried out without requiring any ignition of the charge for projecting the cap. It will also be noted that no great care need be exercised in placing the carbide in the funnel 24, since the pocket 25 y will act to deposit evenly measured quantities of the carbide into the expansion chamber. Enlargement ofthe chamber 10 as shown will also allow for considerable tilting of the barrel about the trunnions 13 without liability of the water being poured into the bore 9.

Referring now to the modified form of toy cannon as illustrated in Figures 5 to J inclusive, the same is substantially of the same construction as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive with the exception that a modified form of loading means 7 is provided for admitting powdered carbide into the barrel.

The barrel 5' is provided with the bore 9 being enlarged at its inner end to provide a chamber 10 having a rounded inner end 11. The frame or mount 6' is of identical construction as that shown in Figure 1 and 2 and the barrel 5' is provided with axially aligning trunnions 13 for pivotal mounting in the upper portion of the frame side plates. A cap 8' is provided for frictional insertion into the outer end of the bore 9 to be projected by formation and expansion of gas in the barrel 5'.

Opening into one side of the chamber 10 on an axis at a right angle to the axis of the barrel 5 is an opening 40 about the outer end of which is an extension providing an annular collar or ring 41. Provided in the collar 41 adjacent its outer end is a substantially V-shaped annular groove 42 having communication at diametrically opposite points with the outer ends of the collar by notches or key-ways 43 which preferably align transversely of the barrel as shown in Figure 7.

The loading means proper 7 includes a cylindrical loading plug 44 of a diameter to snugly fit-in the openingl40, and provided at its outer end with a peripherally protecting rim 45 provided at diametrically opposite points with hook-shaped ears 46 for insertion through the key-Ways 43. A finger gripping wing 47 is extended across the outer end of the plug 44 in alignment with the ears 46 to allow ready placing and removal of the loading plug and also as an indicator for indicating the extent to which the plug has been turned. The cars 46 as'will be observed in Figure 9 are inturned to grip in the groove 42 and these inturned ears 46 serve to retain a washer 48 in position about the outer end of the plug 44.

Projecting inwardly from the imier end of the plug 44 is an arm 50 having a cup 51 formed at its inner ends and oflset at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of the arm. This cup 51 functions as means for placing powdered carbide in the chamber 10'.

In loading the form of cannon illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, a suitable quantity of water is placed in the chamber 10 thru the bore 9 and after which the cap 8 is frictionally inserted into the end of the barrel. By gripping the wing 47 the cup 51 is then dipped into the supply of powdered carbide until the cup fills. The plug is then inserted through the opening 41 with the cup 51 in an upright position until the ears 46 pass through the key-ways 43 and the washer 48 seats upon the outer end of the collar 41. The plug 44 is then rotated thru 90 by the wing 47 which causes the carbide in the cup 51 to be dumped into the water in the chamber 10. This 90 turning of the plug also locks the ears 46 in the groove 42 and seals gas escape through the opening 40. The expanding gas generated in the barrel when reaching sufficient pressure will project the cap 8. Subsequent firing of the cannon can then be accomplished by replacing the cap and inserting a new supply of powdered carbide into the barrel of the cannon by the load ing means 7.

In both forms of cannon the barrels are so balanced on their trunnions as to normally assume the position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 and which may be termed the loading position. By so having the inner end of the chambers rounded and no abrupt shoulders formed between the chambers and bores of the barrel, it will be seen that very easy and very thorough cleaning of the barrels is made possible for removal of the carbide after a period of use of the toy cannon. In both forms of cannon it will be seen that the carbide is inserted in predetermined quantities into the sides of the cannon and that the gas is generated in a chamber normally closed by a frictionally held cap which is projected when suflicient gas pressure has een generated in the-chamber.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a novel and improved construction for toy carbide cannons has been disclosed wherein no ignition means is required, for discharging a projectile with a loud report. It will further be apparent that an improved construction for toy cannons has been disclosed wherein the projectile is projected through a generation and expansion of gases within the normally closed chamber. It will further be apparent that a novel loading means has been disclosed wherein predetermined quantities of carbide may be deposited in the gas generating chamber, the loading means acting when depositing the carbide in the chamber to close the entrance opening through which the carbide has been admitted.

Changes in details may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A cannon comprising a barrel provided with a bore closed at its inner end providing a liquid chamber, means for mounting the barrel in an angular position, a plug fric-' tionally insertable into the outer end of the bore for closing the same, and rotatable loading means opening downwardly through the upper side of the barrel for admitting predetermined qnantities of a gas generating substance into the liquid chamber, said loading means at all times closing the chamber against the escape of gas thru the loading means.

2. A cannon comprising a barrel having a bore closed at its inner end and providing a chamber, a closure plug frictionally insertable into the outer end of the bore and forming a closed chamber, and loading means for admitting a measured quantity of a gas generating substance into the chamber including a rotatable measuring cup alternately opened to the chamber and exteriorly of the barrel, said loading means sealingthe entrance way for the gas generating substance after admission of the substance into the chamber.

3. A cannon comprising a barrel having a bore closed at its inner end, a plug frictionally insertable into the other end of the bore and providing a closed chamber in the barrel, and loading means including a duct opening into the chamber and a rotatable plug traversing the duct and having a pocket provided therein for alternately communicating with the duct at opposite sides of the plug for admittin measured quantities of a as generatiing su stance into the chamber tfirough said uct.

4. A cannon comprising a barrel having a bore closed at its inner end, means for mounting the barrel in an angular position, a plug frictionally insertable into the upper end of the bore to provide a closed chamber in the barrel, and loading means for the canber in the barrel, and loading means for the barrel including a' body portion threaded into the barrel and having a duct formed there through having a flaring upper end, a plug rotatable in the body portion and traversing the duct, said plug having a pocket formed therein for aligning with the duct, and an operating handle provided at one end of the plug for rotation thereof.

MAX F. GRIMIJ. 

